Frustrated EU officials have urged UK Brexit negotiators to table a workable solution to the Irish backstop by Friday if they want a breakthrough in talks.
The UK is currently seeking changes to the withdrawal agreement to make it more palatable to Brexiteer MPs ahead of a crunch vote next week.
But speaking on Thursday morning French Europe minister Natalie Loiseau said there had been no precise proposals from the UK and that the EU side was still waiting.
A European Commission spokesperson had gone on the record in Wednesday to say talks so far had been difficult and that no solution was in sight.
I’m not working on ifs and when’s, I’m working on the positions or the proposals of the British government. We are waiting for a proposal from the British government, we have heard what you don’t want, we are willing to know what you want, Ms Loiseau told BBC Radio 4 early on Thursday.
Talks are said to be somewhat ill-tempered, with EU officials resenting yet another change of interlocutor on the UK side, following the departures of David Davis and Dominic Raab, a switch from visits by Ollie Robbins and the eclipsing of Stephen Barclay by Geoffrey Cox.
Michel Barnier and Sabine Weyand have remained the EU’s main negotiators throughout the process.
Theresa May is expected to visit Brussels herself either this weekend or on Monday, if there has been enough progress to produce some kind of concession.
Her visit would come one day ahead of the second planned meaningful vote on her deal, where the Government hopes to overturn MPs’ first decision to reject the plan.
If her deal is rejected MPs are then on Wednesday scheduled to vote on a no-deal, and on Thursday whether Article 50 should be extended.